Kvichak Delivers Debris Removal Vessel

Friday, March 19, 2010

Photo courtesy Kvichak Marine

Kvichak Marine Industries recently constructed and delivered the M/V John A.B. Dillard, Jr., a Debris Removal Vessel for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) San Francisco Bay District. The USACE San Francisco Bay District has a unique mix of duties, including keeping the navigation and shipping lanes of the greater San Francisco Bay region and its lower tributaries free of floating debris deemed as hazardous to marine vessels. This mission is especially demanding based on the diverse topography and ever changing weather conditions. This vessel will allow shorter response times, increased capacity and greater range. Key to this enhanced capability is the large aft deck, pedestal mounted grapple crane and robust 15 ton deck load capacity. This allows operators to recover large heavy objects in a single “grab” rather than the hazardous and time consuming process of towing objects to base, or reducing their size while working over the side of smaller vessels.

With an 86.5-ft overall length and overall beam of 26 ft, the all welded aluminum catamaran is powered by twin Caterpillar C-32 ACERT engines, coupled to ZF 3050 marine gears. Additional vessel control is provided by two Wesmar V2-12E double propeller bow thrusters. The hull design is from Incat Crowther Ltd of Australia.

This vessel is capable of a multitude of missions including bottom profile surveying, submerged object identification and recovery, floating command center for emergency operations and vessel assist and emergency response.